Video showing Hizb militants surfaces

Srinagar: A new video of Hizbul Mujahideen has surfaced on social media, showing a group of armed militants greeting and hugging each other, in a reminder of the campaign undertaken by its erstwhile commander Burhan Wani before he was killed in an encounter three months back.

In the four-and-a-half minute video, 12 militants are seen in an orchard, carrying weapons, including INSAS rifles apparently snatched from police forces.

They are seen greeting and hugging each other as well as laughing in an attempt to lure youth to join militancy.

Wani had actively used social media to attract the youth to militancy. He made many such propaganda videos before he was killed in the encounter with security forces on July 8.

In another video which also surfaced recently, the new Hizb commander Zakir Rashid Bhat alias “Musa” is seen asking youth to join militancy by snatching rifles from security forces.

During the recent months, there have been a number of incidents in which weapons were snatched or looted from police and security personnel. At least 67 rifles have so far been snatched. These include INSAS and Carbine rifles, which are exclusively used by the police and security forces.